A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

488 From Principate to Monarchy
VI.
An Event in the Principate of Titus
The
Eruption of
Vesuvius,
79 A.D.
Pliny the
Younger,
Letters, vi.
A ncient
World, 471 f.
Flight of
Pliny and
his mother.
Departure
from
Misenum.
During many days there had been shocks of an earthquake,
which alarmed us little, as they are frequent in
Campania; but they were so violent that night that they
not only shook everything about us, but seemed in fact to
threaten total destruction. My mother flew to my room,
where she found me rising in order to awaken her. We
went out into a small court belonging to the house, which
separated the sea from the building.
It was now morning,
but the light was very faint and languid; the buildings all
round us tottered, and though we stood on open ground,
yet as the place was narrow and confined,
remaining without imminent danger.
We therefore resolved to leave the town.
followed us in
there was no
The people
the utmost consternation, and pressed in
great crowds about us on our way out.
After going a convenient
distance from the houses, we stood still in the midst
of a most dangerous and awe-inspiring scene. The carriages
we had ordered to be drawn out were so agitated
backward and forward, though on the most level ground,
that we could not keep them steady even by supporting
them with large stones. The sea seemed to roll back upon
itself, and to be driven from its banks by the convulsive
motions of the earth.
Certainly the shore was considerably
enlarged and several sea-animals were left on it.
the other hand, a black and dreadful cloud, bursting with
fiery, serpentine vapor, darted out a long train of flame,
which resembled flashes of lightning, but were much larger.
. . .
On
Soon afterward the cloud seemed to descend, and cover
the whole ocean; as in fact it entirely hid the island of
Capreae and the promontory of Misenum. My mother con-